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Blixt 1st-round leader at Greenbrier golf

John Raby

Defending champion Jonas Blixt shot a six-under-par 64 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Greenbrier Classic golf tournament.

Blixt tied for second at the Masters but missed the cut in three of his past four starts.

Starting on Greenbrier's 10th hole in the morning with little wind, Blixt had six birdies on his front nine and made the turn at five-under. Six of his eight birdies came from putts of 10 feet or under. He also chipped in from the rough for birdie on 16.

"The golf course is in perfect shape, like last year," Blixt said. "You come back with a bunch of confidence knowing that you won here before.

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"If I can get my putter to work the way it did today, I felt like I hit the ball on line every time, and it could be a really good week."

Patrick Rodgers was a stroke back along with Chris Kirk, DA Points, James Hahn, Jason Bohn, Joe Durant, Jim Renner and Danny Lee.

Steve Stricker was among eight players on 66.

Masters champion Bubba Watson, the top-ranked player in the field at No.3 in the world, had a 68. Only two rounds of 65 or better came during the afternoon when the wind picked up and the greens became firmer.

"I wish I could guess the wind differently but, otherwise, it was a good day," Watson said.

Robert Allenby is the best-placed Australian after a three-under opening round of 67 but is in a logjam with 12 other players. Countrymen Marc Leishman and Steven Bowditch trail Allenby by one shot after shooting 68s, ahead of Greg Chalmers (69), Scott Gardiner and Oliver Goss (70), and Stuart Appleby (73).

Rodgers is looking to make his third straight cut since turning pro. He holed a 118-yard wedge for eagle on the par-4 1st - his 10th hole of the day.

Stricker is playing only his eighth tour event this year. He'll compete again next week at John Deere and is leaning against going to the British Open unless he has one or more high finishes before then.

"We'll just keep plugging along and see what happens," Stricker said.

Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson played alongside Keegan Bradley and Webb Simpson, getting a close-up view as he contemplates his three captain's picks for the September 26-28 event at Gleneagles in Scotland.

"The Ryder Cup's a long way in the distance," Watson said. "I'm watching other people as well. It's fun to be out here to get to know the young players a little bit better."